This blog is dedicated to discussing indoor and outdoor branding topics and challenges in Southern Africa, through the lens of Quickshade Marketing. Quickshade is the leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor branded products in the region. All of our products are manufactured in our Cape Town-based factory, which includes a fully-equipped metal workshop. This ensures we can guarantee all of our frames and pole-kits – because we make them, we stand behind them!

Our facilities also include a top-class graphic design studio. This enables us to help clients achieve the exact branding solutions they desire – particularly those who do not have their own graphic design resources. We offer this service free to all of our clients.

Our design and manufacturing facilities allow us to tackle extraordinary jobs that require thinking outside the box; from custom-made banners and frames, to branded windsocks and airplane-pulled flying banners. If it can be printed on fabric or PVC, we will be able to make it!
We look forward to engaging in discussions with all who interested!

Continuing with the theme from the last post on responsible branding, this week’s post looks at the responsibility and challenges of sustainability – both environmental and economic.

As a responsible member of the community, Quickshade is dedicated to being part of a sustainable South African economy. We recognise the role we – and all South Africans – have to play in bringing about the social, environmental and economic conditions required to achieve this in our communities. 

As such, Quickshade is committed to sustainable quality ­- reducing the environmental impacts of our activities, without compromising the quality of our products. In addition, we have also partnered with entrepreneurs from communities in Joe Slovo, Khayelitsha, and beyond, in an effort to marry environmental sustainability with economic development.

The dye-sub printing process uses a significant amount of paper, all of which is salvaged and recycled by a local company. In addition, all waste plastic and scrap aluminium are collected by local entrepreneurs, who then take it for recycling. While it would be possible to recycle these ourselves, we prefer to support local enterprises and contribute further to employment in the area.

The dye-sub process also results in large amounts of scrap fabric. Our fabric waste is collected and given to a group of young entrepreneurs from Khayelitsha, called Izwe’elitsha Pillows, who make scatter cushions and pillows to sell. Any fabric that does not go to Izwe’elitsha Pillows is collected by E’yako Green, who make eco-friendly corporate gifts and clothing. In addition, Quickshade often donates scrap and off-cut fabric for use on tables, ottomans, chairs and benches in local creches.

Through the above-mentioned methods, Quickshade strives to eliminate all waste from our production process, while contributing to employment in our local communities.

A major challenge facing the branding industry in Southern Africa is how to make oneself relevant above and beyond advertising. In other words, how can a company move beyond simply branding for promotional purposes? One way to achieve this is by providing products and services that satisfy needs beyond promotion.

An example would be Quickshade’s mobile medical booths, which are specifically designed for remote medical testing and services. These booths have helped revolutionise remote medical services, and are allowing NGOs, UN agencies, international aid agencies, as well as government entities, to increase their reach to the most vulnerable communities – usually in remote rural areas.

Quickshade was one of the first to develop the mobile medical booth back in 2011, and has perfected the design over the last 6 years, based on feedback from our end-users. Our clients’ – and their donors’ – primary concerns include the ease of transporting units to remote areas, as well as the durability and cost of units. With this in mind, our booths are retractable and are packed into a convenient bag allowing very easy transportation and storage. In addition, the units are designed to be as economical as possible, without compromising on quality.

The medical booths are made from water-resistant 240gsm heavy duty material – which is durable, hard-wearing – and consists of a canopy and 4 walls fitted to a retractable frame. One wall has a zip-door, one wall is completely closed, while the other 2 have windows. As such, the design of the medical booths maximises privacy for the medical practitioner and their patient. Windows are covered in gauze to allow for airflow, while preventing dirt, debris, and insects entering. The windows can be closed by rolling down a canvass flap to the desired level, allowing the user to how open each window is.

The testing booths also provide prominant branding-space for donors, ensuring that their contributons and projects are made visible and generate exposure. This is important when reporting back to donors, documenting how thieer funding was spent.

We have supplied testing booths to the following organisations: Society for Family Health; Populations Services International; Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention Studies; Broad Reach Healthcare, Anova Health Institute, Love Life, She Conquers, Breast Cancer Awareness, Lesotho defence Force; Moyo, and Hospice Palliative Care Association.

For more information, visit us on www.quickshade.co.za, or contact us on +27 21 5115855, and sales@quickshade.co.za.